11 February 2016

a donut recipe that's just a little too easy

You know those 30 second recipe videos that pop up on your Facebook feed all the time? Mostly I scroll right past them, but then... donuts. This recipe appeared and it looked really easy, so I decided to give it a try. Why do I do that to myself.

These really were super easy and basically foolproof, so I'm sharing them with you. You know, right as we enter into Lent. I'm nothing if not timely. I'm planning on making these Sunday morning, covered in pink and red sprinkles, for my six valentines. Donuts are their love language, and I am happy to provide.

Here's the recipe, adapted from Tasty. Perfect for you and your favorite someone(s)!

Sour Cream Old Fashioned Donuts

makes about a dozen

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

pinch of nutmeg or cinnamon (we prefer the latter)

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons room temperature butter

2 egg yolks

3/4 cup sour cream

oil for frying

Glaze

3 cups powdered sugar

1 1/2 tsp corn syrup

1/2 tsp vanilla

pinch of salt

1/2 cup hot water

Sift dry ingredients into a bowl and set aside.

Mix butter and sugar on medium-low speed until light and fluffy. Add in the egg yolks and mix until combined. Add half of the dry ingredients and blend. Mix in sour cream. Add in remaining dry ingredients and blend until well combined. Wrap your dough in plastic and chill for at least an hour.

Roll out the dough on a floured surface until it's about 1/2" thick. Cut into rounds using a glass or a pastry cutter that's about 3" wide. Find a smaller glass to cut center circles (donut holes!). Lightly score each donut three times, like a triangle around the center hole.

Heat your oil to 325 in a small pan, so the oil is deep enough to submerge 2-3 donuts. Carefully place your donuts (I did two at a time), scored side up in the oil using a slotted spoon. Once it floats to the surface, gently flip and fry for 90 seconds. Flip again and fry for about 60, until the donuts are golden brown. (Cut your time in half for donut holes.) Remove from the oil and rest them on paper towels to soak up excess grease. Repeat with remaining donuts.

Mix all of your glaze ingredients together in a small bowl. Dip tops of cooled donuts in the glaze, one at a time, and set on a cooling rack to dry.

Now go brew some coffee, pull up a chair, and enjoy. These melt in your mouth goodies just might ruin you for the store bought version. Happy sugar high!